Test your basic knowledge |

Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A quick - improvisational - spirited piece of music.






2. A system of notation for stringed instruments. The notes are indicated by the finger positions.






3. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






4. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






5. Indicating speed.






6. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






7. Slow and stately dance music written in triple time.






8. The distance in pitch between two notes.






9. A repeated phrase.






10. A set of seven musicians who perform a composition written for seven parts.






11. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






12. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






13. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






14. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






15. A direction to play lively and fast.






16. A musical form where the principal theme is repeated several times. The rondo was often used for the final movements of classical sonata form works.






17. A successive transposition and repetition of a phrase at different pitches.






18. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






19. Sliding between two notes.






20. The technique of altering the tone color of a single note or musical line by changing from one instrument to another in the middle of a note or line.






21. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






22. Convenient method of numbering a composer's works where a number follows the word 'opus'.For example - Opus 28 - No. 4.






23. Successive notes of a key or mode either ascending or descending.






24. A short piece originally preceded by a more substantial work - also an orchestral introduction to opera - however not lengthy enough to be considered an overture.






25. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






26. A short piece originally preceded by a more substantial work - also an orchestral introduction to opera - however not lengthy enough to be considered an overture.






27. Tone color - quality of sound that distinguishes one verse or instrument to another. It is determined by the harmonies of sound.






28. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






29. Primary theme or subject that is developed.






30. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






31. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.






32. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






33. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






34. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






35. Initially an improvised cadence by a soloist; later becoming an elaborate and written out passage in an aria or concerto - featuring the skills of an instrumentalist or vocalist.






36. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






37. A sequence of songs - perhaps on a single theme - or with texts by one poet - or having continuos narrative.






38. A symbol in sheet music that returns a note to its original pitch after it has been augmented or diminished.






39. A single line of music played or sung. A musical sentence.






40. A song or hymn celebrating Christmas.






41. A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition - each voice enters at different times - creating counterpoint with one another.






42. A musical scale having five notes.For example: the five black keys of a keyboard make up a pentatonic scale.






43. A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.






44. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






45. The keyboard of a stringed instrument.






46. A symbol indicating to play loud.






47. The playing or singing the upper half of the vocal range. Also the highest voice in choral singing.






48. A form of music written for marching in two-step time. Originally the march was used for military processions.






49. Tone color - quality of sound that distinguishes one verse or instrument to another. It is determined by the harmonies of sound.






50. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.